Infant Mortality Rises in Southeast, Officials Concerned

There is a disturbing trend in Mississippi and other nearby southeastern states. Infant mortality rates which officials have vigilantly battled for years to lower have begun to increase rapidly. Infant mortality rates are rising in areas of large black populations where poverty abounds and good medical care needs are many. This increase in infant deaths have raised questions about the ramifications of cuts in welfare, Medicaid ( which is free health care provided by the government ), poor access to doctors, nutritional low cost food availability and especially prenatal care.There has also been an alarming growth in obesity, diabetes and hypertension among women of child bearing age in these locations. One doctor that represents the National Perinatal Association, has stated that the rise does not seem to be a fluke, but a growing problem. State officials are investigating various causes that may lie behind these alarming statistics denying the obvious.

Officials in Mississippi have been left shaking their heads as death rates (defined as death during the time span from birth through the age of one) has gone from 9.7 deaths per thousand infants in 2004 to 11.5 in 2005. National averages for the year 2003, which was the last year that figures had been compiled nationwide, were listed on average of 6.9 deaths per thousand infants. The deaths among black children in Mississippi was an alarming 17 infant deaths per thousand children born in 2005. This was up from 14.2 in 2004. The rise means that 65 more babies died than in the previous year.

In 2004, Governor Haley Barbour claimed he would not increase taxes and vowed to lower the Medicaid costs and other benefits to the poor. Patients were told that they must apply and renew all benefits in person and all documentation requirements became much more stringent. Many pregnant women have been deterred from enrolling in state medical care programs along with food stamp programs due to the changes in rules and much tougher requirements. For many rural poor women, transportation is a very real problem. One woman claimed, "If you don't have a car or any transportation and you need to see a doctor, you just don't go." There are few free programs that provide health care in the Delta areas. Many doctors who specialize in prenatal or pediatric care, only think that the problem will continue to grow if not addressed. Mississippi's Medicaid director, Donald L. Robinson said in a written response that suggesting any correlation between the decline in Medicaid enrollment and infant mortality rates were just "conjecture".

Doctors claim that many women of extreme low income are obese. Many of these women are weighing 300-400 pounds, making high blood pressure and diabetes immediate issues. Poor nutrition due to lack of nutritional education and availability of high quality foods makes this a growing problem. Good nutritious foods, high in protein and other valuable nutrients cost more money. High fat and high caloric foods such as pastas and breads are cheaper. Many poor women also smoke which can cause premature births and low birth-weight. Despite state budget cutbacks, doctors are urging state officials of the importance of nutritional education and making high quality foods available to women of childbearing years and their infants and making it easier for poor, rural women to obtain medical care.

One young mother in her mid-twenties is currently pregnant with her third child , sat eating a bag of chips and drinking a soda. She has lost two other babies, one due to a still birth and the other after surgery to correct a severe birth defect. When told that good food choices were important to her and her new baby's health, she shrugged and responded that the snacks were filling and all she could afford for lunch.

Some health programs try to provide visits from nurses for young families outside cities, but there is too little funding and too few nurses available. When nurses do visit there number one priority is to educate, to try to teach young mothers how to care for themselves while pregnant and how to provide nutritious meals for their young children. New mothers are also encouraged to breast feed their babies and are given instructions about preventing unwanted pregnancies. They also instruct mothers about correct care for infants and toddlers. Mothers are told about the importance of putting an infant to sleep on his back, decreasing the possibility of S.I.D.S. (sudden infant death syndrome). Nurses are overworked and far too few. Some counties throughout the Delta areas have had their infancy mortality rates soar to as many as 20 babies dying per thousand children born. This rate is higher than any other developed nation in the world. The battle continues between doctors, health care providers and government officials, one who wants to help babies live and the other, who can only see dollar figures and not the value in saving young lives. In the mean time the alarming figures continue to rise, babies are dying and families are grieving.